Category Archives: News

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
“I got to know Mr. Kenneth Dong when a friend introduced him to me several years ago. I was told that he is a legitimate businessman and an importer of Asuki industrial weighing scales. I consider him a friend but I do not know what his dealings and businesses are except for his ownership of Asuki.”
This was the statement Wednesday of Sen. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri on the alleged involvement of Mr. Kenneth Dong on the P6.4 billion drug importation seized in Valenzuela City.
Zubiri said Dong made him “Ninong” (godfather) at his wedding and he was only one of many senators, politicians and celebrities who were asked to be principal sponsor.

BY: Omer Oscar Almenario
SECRETARY Ismael Sueno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Dir. Gen. Ronald dela Rosa, to ensure the safety of Senator Leila de Lima at the police headquarters.
According to a statement from the department, Sueno gave Dela Rosa clear instructions after certain groups expressed fear for the senator’s safety.
“Senator de Lima’s security and safety is also our concern and so we would like to assure everyone that she will be treated in accordance with established procedures and existing laws,” the DILG chief said.
The department said Sueno ordered Dela Rosa to ensure that members of the PNP will give courtesy to the senator.
De Lima was arrested on drug trafficking charges in her Senate office by PNP Central Intelligence and Detection Group personnel Friday morning.

By: Oscar Omer Almenario
PHILIPPINE Senator Leila de Lima voluntarily surrendered to members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) on Friday morning after a Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) judge ordered her arrest Thursday afternoon.
Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 Judge Juanita Guerrero ordered De Lima’s arrest after it cited probable cause for charges against the senator, accused to have abetted the illegal drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) while she was justice secretary from 2010 to 2015.

By: Omer Oscar Almenario
DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday said there will be an all-out war against the New People’s Army (NPA) following President Rodrigo Duterte’s call for the scrapping of peace talks between the Philippine government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).
Lorenzana made the announcement in a press briefing in Malacanang.
The official, however, clarified that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will only go after the armed component of the movement and stay out of the way of the groups supportive of the revolutionaries.
“It is an all-out war kasi (because) they are considered by the President already as terrorists. We also consider them as terrorists,” Lorenzana said.

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
THE Philippine population will continue to increase in 2017 and is projected to reach 105,758,850 by December 31, 2017 based on projections made by the Commission on Population (POPCOM) using data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Included in the projection are 27,293,422 women of reproductive age (aged 15-49). These women are usually the beneficiaries of Reproductive Health services under the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law.
Adolescent girls 10-19 years old will also increase to 10,080,824 next year. Based on the most recent data from the PSA (2014), it is expected that over 200,000 adolescent girls will give birth in 2017.
The figures for women of reproductive age and adolescent girls continue to be the highest numbers on record. This trend is expected to continue up to 2022 when the numbers of women of reproductive age are expected to peak at 29.1 million and adolescent girls at 11.3 million.

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
A PHILIPPINE official confirmed on Wednesday that President Rodrigo Duterte and National Democratic Front (NDF) chief political consultant Jose Maria “Joma” Sison talked over the phone at dawn last Tuesday.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said President Duterte and Sison agreed to pursue the peace process.
“It did go on. It went through at about 3 a.m. dawn of that particular day. From the sources, it was a warm conversation between old friends,” Abella said.

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
THE Philippine government expressed sympathy to the family of former Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who passed away on Thursday morning. She died peacefully in her sleep at 8:52 a.m. at the St. Lukes’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City after more than two years of battling lung cancer.
“She was a shining light in Philippine political annals, for her sharp legal mind, uncompromising stand and acid humor,” Presidential Spokesperson said in a press statement.
Abella said Santiago had a profound influence on millenials and the youth – constantly challenging pre-conceived notions – political and social.
The Supreme Court (SC) offered prayers and joined the nation in mourning the demise of former Santiago.
In a statement, the SC said it is one with the nation in mourning the passing of Santiago, offers its prayers for comfort for her loved ones, and remembers her significant contributions to law as a scholar, professor, author, and lawmaker.

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
“I do not have an obligation to please everybody or to please one person. But if you’re a Filipino, I am at your service because I work for you. I receive my keep for the day from the pocket of the people,” Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte said.
President Duterte also reiterated his stand on the peaceful settlement of disputes and vowed to pursue an independent foreign policy.

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday said he wishes to seat in front of the Chinese Ambassador or his representative in order to lay down the Philippines’ position regarding the West Philippine issue (South China Sea) as he reiterated his stand for peace.
President Duterte in his speech during the commemoration of the National Heroes Day at the “Libingan Ng Mga Bayani” (Heros’ Cemetery) in Taguig City said “China, it’s not worthy, I don’t go to war.”
The President said he wants the talks with China to prosper and will not do acts that may affect it.
The Philippines through former President Fidel Ramos, who leads the panel for the talks with China, has met with Chinese officials recently to look into future discussion between the two countries on the West Philippine Sea issue.
Earlier, the President said the country will not open the topic on the South China Sea nor the arbitral decision so as not to affect the ongoing talks between the two countries.

By OMER OSCAR ALMENARIO
PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson Ernesto Abella dismissed speculations that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte refused to meet United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, saying “There was nothing personal and it should not be given negative connotation”.
Abella’s statement came in reaction to accusations that President Duterte refused to meet Mr. Ban when he goes to Laos PDR (People’s Democratic Republic) during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next week.
“It was a matter of scheduling,” Abella told reporters in a press conference Friday at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City. Abella emphasized on the tight schedule of the President, who could no longer find ample time for Mr. Ban.
He said the President was scheduled to meet with 11 heads of states and Mr. Ban’s request for appointment came late.
The President was accused of rejecting a meeting with the UN head after a UN rapporteur strongly criticized his anti-drug war. Mr. Duterte lambasted the UN official for lack of diplomatic protocol, indicating lack of respect to a leader of a sovereign state.

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The Proliferation of Drugs Syndicates at the National Bilibid Prison with Ronnie Palisoc Dayan Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs (November 23, 2016)(November 23, 2016)Sept. 19, 2016House Committee Hearing